Automatic identification marker for restricted equipment



July 9, 1963 E. G. BURLEIGH AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION MARKER FOR RESTRICTED EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 19, 1961 FlGURE 4- E.G.BURLE|GH INVENTOR.

FIGURE 3 United States Patent 3,096,940 AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION MARKER FOR RESTRICTED EQUIPMENT Elmer G. Burleigh, 5475 Encina Drive, San Diego, Calif. Filed Dec. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 160,520 3 Claims. (Cl. 239-272) This invention generally relates to a device used to spray an odorized invisible ink in the vicinity of a triggerting knob for the purpose of later locating and identifying the person using this unauthorized equipment; and more particularly to a device installed within a fire alarm box for the purpose of secretly marking any person transmitting an alarm.

An object of the invention is to mark said person with a distinctive odor not objectionable yet not pleasant which will help locate said person in case the alarm was false.

Another object of the invention is to secretly mark him with invisible ink for the purpose of positive identification.

Still another object of" the invention is to avoid objection of people transmitting a legitimate alarm, since the odor is not offensive and the ink is invisible under ordinary light.

Another object of the invention is to provide a source of perishable volatile liquid in a sealed capsule for an indefinite length of time until used. It requires no servicing until after the box or the equipment is used.

Still another object of the device is its compactness, enabling its installation inside the existing fire alarm box door without complications or interference with any of the normal box operations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple to construct, easy to service, inexpensive to manufacture and install in existing boxes, or incorporate in new fire alarm box doors; is compact enough to be installed in a small place, and well adapted to use in any type alarm box.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing the back side of the device in elevation, constructed in accordance with the invention, and installed on the back side of the front door of a fire alarm box. The device is in the cocked position, ready to operate.

FIGURE 2 is a view showing the device in side elevation with the CO cartridge inserted in the device.

FIGURE 3 is a view showing the device installed in a fire alarm box.

FIGURE 4 is a view showing the body of the device exploded and in section.

In carrying out the invention, referring now specifically to the drawing, the device is shown attached to the inside of the fire alarm box door 33 by the fasteners 21 through the flange 2. The main cylinder body 3 is drilled concentrically for the nozzle 5, the puncturing needle 19 and the piston cylinder 1. Gas passages 8 and 17 are drilled within the body. Passage 8 is sealed with the plug 9. The open end of the body 3 has fine external threads for the cap 4. The cap 4 has external knurling and internal threads matching the external threads of the body 3.

The gasket 23 seals the cap 4 to the cylinder body 3.

The liquid capsule 18 slides freely but not sloppily in the cylinder 1. It fills the space within the cylinder between the needle 19 and the cap 4, but is short enough to be free of the needle 19 to prevent puncture until the device is tripped. Said capsule has a concentric shoulder to enable its removal from the cylinder 1. The Achilles "ice heel 20 is a soft puncture spot. It may be a hole sealed after filling with the invisible odorized ink 34.

The odor of the ink 34 shall be distinctive neither pleasant nor offensive. All the ingredients of the ink 34 shall be non-toxic, non-irritating, non-staining and in visible under ordinary light. The odor should last between one half to three-quarters of an hour and the ink should remain recognizable after a casual iwashing.

The projecting nozzle 5 is drilled concentrically for the outer orifice 7 and has a hole drilled laterally to complete the gas passage 8. The projecting nozzle, which is the only part of the device visible on the outside of the box is machined to provide a deflecting surface 6.

The CO puncturing needle body 10 is drilled concentrically to receive the hollow puncturing needle 13 and to complete the gas passage to gas passage 17. A threaded shoulder on the needle end of the puncturing needle body 10 receives the retaining cap 12 that holds the rubber CO cartridge seal 11. The size of the CO cartridge can be determined by the amount of the ink necessary to spray.

The hammer arm cradle 15 supports the cartridge 14 in the ready position until the box is pulled. The hammer arm 16 is powered by the spring 24. The spring 24 is anchored at the driving spring anchor 25. The hammer arm is cooked by the trigger 27 snapped over the hammer trigger end 26 by the device tripping spring 32.

The tripping lever 30 of the alarm box (which is operated from outside the alarm box by the manual knob and actually sets the alarm box in operation) is pivoted at 31.

In the operation of the device, pressure is stored in the CO cartridge 14. Odorized invisible ink 34 in a predetermined amount is stored in a sealed capsule 18 inside the cylinder 1. The capsule 18 is fitted closely enough to the walls of the cylinder 1 to act as a piston, yet not tight enough to bind.

A nozzle 5 protrudes from the device and extends to the outside of the box in the vicinity of the manual box tripping lever or knob.

A hammer lever 16 is cocked against pressure of driving spring 24 and is designed to cradle the CO cartridge on its driving end in the hammer cradle 15.

A trigger 27 holds the hammer arm 16 in the cocked position. The trigger 27 may be adapted to any type of lever or bell crank to operate the trip. Said trigger 27 should not interfere with the normal operation of the fire alarm box or restricted equipment.

Upon tripping the alarm box or operating restricted equipment, the trigger 27 releases the arm '16 to the tension of the driving spring 24. The leverage of the hammer arm 16 being so great as to drive the cartridge 14 into the seal 11 and the hollow needle '13 to puncture the cartridge 14 and seal it to the system.

Upon being charged with the pressure of the CO from the cartridge 14, the gas passes into the passage 8, hollow needle 13 and passage 17.

The gas from passage 17 charges the cylinder 1 driving the piston type capsule 34 deeper into the cylinder 1 and impaling it on the hollow needle 19.

Gas entering gas passage 8 escapes to the outer orifice 7. This gas acts both as a syphon and an atomizing agent.

With the capsule 18 open to the hollow needle 19, ink 34 is both forced and drawn into the hollow needle 19 and expelled to the outside striking the deflector plate 6 and spraying over the hand of the person tripping the device.

The device makes. it possible to avoid embarrassing the innocent while not overlooking the guilty. Location of the guilty individual can be detected by the distinctive odor prevailing in his presence. Positive identification can be made by the ink with the use of an ultra violet light.

principles of the invention.

The operation is instantaneous and about 10 drops of liquid in a mist can be sprayed before an individual can remove his hand.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new is as follows:

1. Apparatus 'for assisting in detecting unauthorized tampering with a signal device, such as a fire alarm box, comprising in combination:

(A) an arm for initiating a signal;

(B) means for moving said arm;

(C) a releasable retainer for said means;

(D) a cartridge containing an expansi-ble fluid and adapted to be moved by said arm when said arm is moved by said means,

('1) said cartridge having a fracturable wall;

(E) a hollow needle lying in the path of movement of said cartridge and adapted to pierce said cartridge to release the fluid in said cartridge,

(2) said needle having a fluid outlet;

(F) means forming a cylinder and a fluid passage leading from said outlet to the cylinder, and forming a passage leading from said outlet to atmosphere;

(G) a capsule type piston in said cylinder movable under pressure from the first mentioned passage,

(3) said piston being adapted to contain a detecting fluid, (4) said piston a fracturable wall;

(H) a hollow needle lying in the path of movement of the piston when said piston is moved by the fluid in the first mentioned passage,

(5) said second mentioned needle having an outlet disposed in the second mentioned passage;

(I) and means for releasing said retainer.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the second mentioned needle has an inlet end disposed in the cylinder and the outlet end is disposed in the second mentioned passage.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the second mentioned passage terminates in a downwardly extending deflecting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,191,400 Cilley July 18, 1916 1,534,732 Palmer Apr. 21, 1925 2,094,261 Burley Sept. 28, 1937 2,680,439 Sutermeister June 8, 1954 2,722,224 Blann Nov, 1, 1955 2,749,178 Larson June 5, 1956 2,812,754 Harvey Nov. 12, 1957 

1. APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING IN DETECTING UNAUTHORIZED TAMPERING WITH A SIGNAL DEVICE, SUCH AS A FIRE ALARM BOX, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) AN ARM FOR INITIATING A SIGNAL; (B) MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ARM; (C) A RELEASABLE RETAINER FOR SAID MEANS; (D) A CARTRIDGE CONTAINING AN EXPANSIBLE FLUID AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVED BY SAID ARM WHEN SAID ARM IS MOVED BY SAID MEANS, (1) SAID CARTRIDGE HAVING A FRACTURABLE WALL; (E) A HOLLOW NEEDLE LYING IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CARTRIDGE AND ADAPTED TO PIERCE SAID CARTRIDGE TO RELEASE THE FLUID IN SAID CARTRIDGE, (2) SAID NEEDLE HAVING A FLUID OUTLET; (F) MEANS FORMING A CYLINDER AND FLUID PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID OUTLET TO THE CYLINDER, AND FORMING A PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID OUTLET TO ATMOSPHERE; (G) A CAPSULE TYPE PISTON IN SAID CYLINDER MOVABLE UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE FIRST MENTIONED PASSAGE, (3) SAID PISTON BEING ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A DETECTING FLUID, (4) SAID PISTON A FRACTURABLE WALL; (H) A HOLLOW NEEDLE LYING IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON WHEN SAID PISTON IS MOVED BY THE FLUID IN THE FIRST MENTIONED PASSAGE, (5) SAID SECOND MENTIONED NEEDLE HAVING AN OUTLET DISPOSED IN THE SECOND MENTIONED PASSAGE; (I) AND MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID RETAINER. 